Bow and anchor light



Sept. 26, 1967 M. s. PERKINS 3,344,264

BOW AND ANCHOR LIGHT Filed July 29, 1965 INVENTOR MAW/mi PAW/Mr Wm. M

. ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,344,264 130W AND ANCHOR LEIGHT Marvin S. Perkins, Miami, Fla., assignor to Perkins Marine Lamp and Hardware Corporation, Miami, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed .Iuly 29, 1965, Ser. No. 475,754 7 Claims. (Ci. 240-7.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bow and anchor light includes a base section provided with a depending integrally formed pole coupling collar, an upwardly directed transverse partition and lamp socket wells positioned along the medial longitudinal axis of the base section on opposite sides of the partition. Lamp carrying sockets register with the wells and the partition intercepts horizontal dihedral angles from the said lamps of 135 and not exceeding 225 respectively. Separable cylindrical Fresnel lenses extend from the edges of the partition about each of the lamps. The lamps are separably energizable so that the device may be used as an anchor light or bow light.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in signal and identification devices and it relates particularly to an improved adaptable light particularly for marine use.

A general international navigational requirement for many types of marine vessels is that such vessels be provided with a bow light providing a 20 point forward beam; that is, a beam of light of 225, and an anchor light of 32 points; that is, one visible for 360. The practice has been to provide a separate how light and a separate anchor light with the associated hardware mounts and supports and with separate switch means for individually controlling these lights. This arrangement possesses many drawbacks and disadvantages. It is awkward, expensive and inconvenient, frequently improperly employed, and otherwise leaves much to be desired.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved visual signal device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved marine signal lamp.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved marine bow and anchor light.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a marine light of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, reliability, ease of use and low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a marine lamp embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof illustrating the area of the light beams thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a top transverse sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 3.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a marine signal light comprising a body member including a base section and a vertical partition, a lamp socket member mounted on said base on each side of said partition, a lamp releasably engaged by each of said socket members, a vertical cylindrical lens mounted on said base and surrounding said lamps, said partition intercepting a rear horizontal dihedral angle from one of said lamps of approximately and from the other of said lamps of less than 225, and means for selectively energizing said lamps.

According to a preferred form of the present marine light, the base section of the body member includes longitudinally opposite semi-circular sections provided with upstanding peripheral lips and the partition projects vertically from the base medial transverse axis. A central coupling collar depends from the base and a pair of wells is formed in the base on opposite sides of the partition in communication with the depending collar. A light socket registers with each of the wells and releasably engages a bulb in a position whereby the partition intercepts a rear, dihedral angle from each bulb of 135 to delineate respective beams of 225. A cylindrical Fresnel lens is disposed in each side of the partition with its lower border contiguous to the inner faces of the lip and a closure cap rests on the upper edges of the partition and lens and is releasably secured to the partition.

Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 16 generally designates the improved marine signal light, a combination bow and anchor light, mounted atop a hollow mast 11 of conventional construction and located at any desirable position on a boat or ship. Signal light 10 comprises a main body member 12 including an integrally formed base section 13 and a centrally located coupling collar 14 depending from the base section. Base section 13 is of approximately oval shape and is provided along its peripheral edge with a shallow upstandin lip 16. Lip 16 is relatively thin along the front and rear edges of the base section and relatively heavy along the side edges, and delineates a recess 18, including longitudinally spaced opposite semi-circular sections joined by parallel transversely spaced longitudinal side edges.

A medially disposed vertical transverse partition or panel 19 is formed integral with base section 13 and is directed upwardly therefrom. Panel 19 extends between the sides of lip 16 and terminates at its side edges with flanges 2t) projecting in a common direction from a face of the panel. The opposite faces of panel 19 converge upwardly, and a medially disposed vertical rib 21 is formed on a face of the panel 19 and is provided at its top with a tapped bore 22.

Formed in base section 13, on opposite sides of and symmetrically located relative to panel 19, is a pair of vertical wells 23 which communicate at their bottoms with opposite sides of coupling collar 14. A bayonet type lamp socket 2 4, of conventional construction, is nested in each well 23 and extends downwardly to a level above the bottom of the respective well. A pair of electric leads 26 extend from the contacts of each socket 24 through wells 23, collar 14 and mast 11, and may be connected through corresponding switches to a battery or other source of current to permit the individual selective energizing of the lamp sockets. An electric light bulb 27 having a bayonet type base mating sockets 24 is releasably engaged by each socket 24 to be selectively individually energized therewith.

As best seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the center of each lamp 27 is designated as C, which center is so located relative to panel 19 that the dihedral angle between the center C of each lamp 27 and the side edges of the panel 19 is approximately 12 points or 135. Consequently, the panel-unintercepted light beam from each of the lamps 27 is 20 points or 225, front and rear respectively.

A cylindrical lens 28 is positioned on opposite sides of panel 19. Each lens 28 is of a peripheral shape corre sponding to the peripheral face of the recess 18 between the side edges of the panel 19. The lower border of each lens 28 abuts the inner face of lip 16 and the vertical end edges thereof abut the corresponding faces of the panel 19 and flanges 20. Lenses 28 are of the Fresnel type, including a medial convex section 29 at the level of the filament of the lamp 27, and upper and lower sections 30 provided with prismatic ridges.

A closure member or cap 32 overlies the upper edges of lenses 28 and partition 19, and includes a depending peripheral flange 33 which abuts the upper outer borders of lenses 28 and is provided with recesses which engage the upper ends of flanges 20. A screw 34 registers with a counter-sunk tapped bore 22 in cap 32 and engages the tapped bore releasably to lock cap 32 to partition 18 and lenses 28 in their assembled position.

The uses and operation of the marine light are clear from the above. The light 10 is positioned on mast 11 in any desired location on the boat. When the boat is at anchor, both lamps 27 are energized through the leads 26 to provide a 32 point or 360 beam. However, when the boat is under way, only one of the lamps 27 is energized to provide a 20 point or 225 beam as required by convention. Should a bulb burn out, it may be readily changed by removing the screw 34 and cap 32 to provide access to the lamps 27, the cap and screw being replaced following the changing of the burned out bulb 27.

While there has been described hereinabove and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made Without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A marine signal light comprising a body member substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis including a base section, socket means for mounting said base section atop a pole, and an upwardly directed transverse partition, lamp socket members mounted on said base section on each side of said partition along said longitudinal axis, a lamp releasably engaged by each of said socket members, a vertical cylindrical lens mounted on said base section and surrounding said lamps, said partition intercepting a rear horizontal dihedral angle from one of said lamps of approximately 135 and from the other of said lamps of less than 225 and means for selectively energizing said lamps.

2. A marine signal light comprising a body member substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis including a base section and a medially located upwardly directed transverse partition, a pair of light socket members mounted on said base member on opposite sides of said partition along said longitudinal axis, a lamp releasably engaged by each of said socket members, a pair of symmetrically disposed vertical cylindrical lenses mounted on said base section and extending between opposite edges of said partition, said partition intercepting a horizontal dihedral angle from each of said lamps of approximately 135 and less than about 225 respectively, and means for selectively energizing said lamps.

3. A marine signal light comprising a horizontal base member and provided with a depending pole coupling collar, a medially located transverse partition projecting upwardly from said base member, said base member having a pair of wells formed therein spaced on opposite sides of said partition along the medial longitudinal axis of said base member, an electric lamp socket member registering with each of said wells, a lamp releasably engaged by each of said socket members, said partition intercepting a horizontal dihedral angle from each of said lamps of approximately and less than about 225 respectively, and a pair of vertical cylindrical lenses disposed on opposite sides of and extending between the opposite edges of said partition.

4. A marine signal light comprising a horizontal base member having longitudinally spaced opposite semi-circular borders provided with upstanding peripheral lips and including a medially disposed depending pole coupling collar, a transverse partition projecting upwardly from said base member, said base member having a pair of wells formed therein spaced on opposite sides of said partition along the medial longitudinal axis of said base member, an electric lamp socket member registering with each of said wells, a lamp releasably engaged by each of said socket members, said partition intercepting a horizontal dihedral angle from each of said lamps of approximately 135 and less than about 225 respectively, and a pair of vertical cylindrical lenses disposed on opposite sides of and extending between the opposite edges of said base member, the bottom borders of said lenses being contiguous to the inner faces of said lips, and a top wall overlying the upper edges of said lenses and said partition.

5. The marine signal light of claim 4, wherein said top wall is provided with a depending peripheral flange which is contiguous to the outer upper borders of said lenses.

6. The marine signal light of claim 4, including means for separably securing said top wall to said partition.

7. The marine signal light of claim 4, wherein said lenses are Fresnel lenses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,442 9/1935 Sprung 240-11.4 2,375,311 5/1945 Meyers 240-7.5 3,254,206 5/ 1966 Martelet 2407 .5

FOREIGN PATENTS 603,761 8/1960 Canada. 133,402 10/1951 Sweden.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MARINE SIGNAL LIGHT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICAL ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLUDING A BASE SECTION, SOCKET MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID BASE SECTION ATOP A POLE, AND A UPWARDLY DIRECTED TRANSVERSE PARTITION, LAMP SOCKET MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE SECTION ONE EACH SIDE OF SAID PARTITION ALONG SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A LAMP RELEASABLY ENGAGED BY EACH OF SAID SOCKET MEMBERS, A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL LENS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE SECTION AND SURROUNDING SAID LAMPS, SAID PARTITION INTERCEPTING A REAR HORIZONTALLY DIHEDRAL ANGLE FROM ONE OF SAID LAMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 135* AND FROM THE OTHER OF SAID LAMPS OF LESS THAN 225*, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SAID LAMPS. 